A Retrospective Examination of Paleoparasitology and Its Establishment in the Journal of Parasitology

Faulkner, Charles H.; Reinhard, Karl J.

doi:10.1645/13-485.1

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Many different types of eggs have been isolated and reported (Faulkner and Reinhard, 2014), although 2 nematode genera are of particular interest; the roundworm Ascaris sp. and the whipworm Trichuris sp.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA Typing of Ancient Parasite Eggs from Environmental Samples Identifies Human and Animal Worm Infections in Viking-Age Settlement

Søe

Nejsum

Fredensborg

et al. 2015

Journal of Parasitology

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Ancient parasite eggs were recovered from environmental samples collected at a Viking-age settlement in Viborg, Denmark, dated 1018-1030 A.D. Morphological examination identified Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., and Fasciola sp. eggs, but size and shape did not allow species identification. By carefully selecting genetic markers, PCR amplification and sequencing of ancient DNA (aDNA) isolates resulted in identification of: the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura , using SSUrRNA sequence homology; Ascaris sp. with 100% homology to cox1 haplotype 07; and Fasciola hepatica using ITS1 sequence homology. The identification of T. trichiura eggs indicates that human fecal material is present and, hence, that the Ascaris sp. haplotype 07 was most likely a human variant in Viking-age Denmark. The location of the F. hepatica finding suggests that sheep or cattle are the most likely hosts. Further, we sequenced the Ascaris sp. 18S rRNA gene in recent isolates from humans and pigs of global distribution and show that this is not a suited marker for species-specific identification. Finally, we discuss ancient parasitism in Denmark and the implementation of aDNA analysis methods in paleoparasitological studies. We argue that when employing species-specific identification, soil samples offer excellent opportunities for studies of human parasite infections and of human and animal interactions of the past.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA Typing of Ancient Parasite Eggs from Environmental Samples Identifies Human and Animal Worm Infections in Viking-Age Settlement

Søe

Nejsum

Fredensborg

et al. 2015

Journal of Parasitology

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“…Parasite egg and larvae were found in coprolites collected from a mummified body found in an archaeological site in Minas Gerais, Brazil, dated 2,500 years old (Ferreira et al 1983), and adult worms were found still attached in the intestine of a mummified Peruvian body, dated of 900 AD (Allison et al 1974). These discoveries fed into a preexisting debate regarding hookworms in coprolites that was resolved in 2001 (for review, see Faulkner and Reinhard (2014)). Once hookworm and other parasites were accepted as prehistoric American parasites by the general scientific community, interdisciplinary research shows how very ancient coastal migrations during periods of climate change opened the Americas for tropical parasites.…”

Section: The Serial Nature Of Mummy Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mummies, Parasites, and Pathoecology in the Ancient Americas

Araújo¹,

Reinhard²

2020

The Handbook of Mummy Studies

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Mummy studies can make important contributions to the field of parasitology. Several theoretical approaches emerged in the field relevant to archeoparasitology and especially mummy studies. Three of these areas are summarized below. The ecological approach to reconstruction of infection patterns is pathoecology. A concept key to understanding prehistoric infection occurrence is nidality. A new evolutionary perspective has been defined as the Stockholm Paradigm. In this review, we propose an approach to mummy studies that provides outlooks relevant to current and future trends in parasitology.

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“…Paleoparasitology is a specialty within paleopathology as well as the passion of a small but active community of parasitologists (Faulkner and Reinhard, 2014). When environmental conditions permit, fecal matter is preserved in situ in mummies or separately in dry or cold localities such as caves.…”

Section: Diseases In the Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleopathology

Cook

2015

Basics in Human Evolution

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A Retrospective Examination of Paleoparasitology and Its Establishment in the Journal of Parasitology

Cited by 23 publications

References 75 publications

DNA Typing of Ancient Parasite Eggs from Environmental Samples Identifies Human and Animal Worm Infections in Viking-Age Settlement

DNA Typing of Ancient Parasite Eggs from Environmental Samples Identifies Human and Animal Worm Infections in Viking-Age Settlement

Mummies, Parasites, and Pathoecology in the Ancient Americas

Paleopathology

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